Flying Taxi Takes Off for the First Time in Public Display From XPeng Motors

150 people, smartphones out, watched an electric flying car perform a successful test down at Dubai’s skydiving range. There they caught a glimpse of what the not too distant future will bring.

A gaggle of flying taxi companies around the world all seem to be on the verge of populating the skies with different versions of “eVTOL” vehicles, or “electric vertical take-off and landing.”

XPeng Motors’ X2 flying taxi is a teardrop-shaped two-seater EVTOL that can cruise at around 1,000 meters in elevation at 81 miles per hour. The battery currently can store electricity for a 35 minute flight, enough for a CEO’s quick carbon-free jaunt across a skyline.

The test was unmanned, and done by automated control.

“XPeng’s X2’s public display in Dubai represents a significant milestone for XPeng AeroHT and the international achievement of flying cars,” said Brian Gu, Vice Chairman and President of XPeng.

“Dubai is a world-renowned ‘City of Innovation,’ which is the reason we decided to hold the X2 first public flight event here. Today’s flight is a major step in XPeng exploration of future mobility.”

RELATED: United Airlines Pre-Orders 200 Flying Taxis With Vertical Takeoff for 4 Passengers

Bloomberg reporting on the test noted that XPeng is in competition with other companies like TCab Tech and AutoFlight for pole position as Asia’s urban air mobility’s leader, a market expected to reach $1 trillion over the next 20 years.

“The flying car is the epitome of ambition, innovation and future-oriented vision that has always inspired Dubai,” said Dubai Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Hassan Al Hashemi.

WATCH the test below…

SHARE The News With Your Friends On Social Media…